2027 Best Best Schools in the Southeast Region
Best programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their best programs.
College Factual analyzed 80 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best best schools.
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Best Schools for Best in the Southeast Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Best
No school ranked higher than Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University this year for best. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 38 best students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $74,121 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong best program will find one at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public university. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 61 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $66,534. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete this degree.
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George Mason University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #3. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 98 best degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from George Mason University earn around $67,375 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $20,106 in student loans.
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A rank of #4 makes Clemson University one of the top schools for best. Clemson University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Clemson. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 best students who graduated with this degree at Clemson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $65,949 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,783 to complete this degree.
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James Madison University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in best, ranking #5. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. James Madison University awarded about 59 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $48,396 early in their careers. James Madison University graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
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University Of Miami placed #6 among the best best schools. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 best degrees were awarded at University Of Miami in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from University Of Miami earn around $69,710 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,750.
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Lipscomb University placed #7 among the best best schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Lipscomb University awarded about 41 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $48,949 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
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Florida State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tallahassee. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 105 best degrees were awarded at Florida State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $49,466 in their early career. Florida State University graduates carry a median of $20,125 in student loans.
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North Carolina State University At Raleigh ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Raleigh. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 48 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $51,393 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,113 to complete this degree.
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University Of Georgia ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 85 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $54,613. Typical student debt for the program is $21,792.
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The University Of Tennessee earned the #11 position for best this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. The University Of Tennessee awarded about 14 best degrees in the most recent data year. Best graduates of The University Of Tennessee earn a median of $49,826 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,859 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #12 position for best this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 45 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $53,777. Typical student debt for the program is $23,813.
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Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College came in at #13 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Baton Rouge. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College graduates 66% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 best students who graduated with this degree at Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $55,859 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,348.
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Florida Atlantic University came in at #14 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Boca Raton. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 79 best students who graduated with this degree at Florida Atlantic University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their best degree from Florida Atlantic University earn around $52,155 in the first couple years of their career. Florida Atlantic University graduates carry a median of $19,804 in student loans.
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University Of Central Florida came in at #15 for best this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Central Florida awarded about 154 best degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $49,212 in their early career. University Of Central Florida graduates carry a median of $22,453 in student loans.
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University Of North Carolina At Charlotte ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best best schools. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 30 best degrees were awarded at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $59,111 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete this degree.
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Auburn University came in at #17 for best this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 55 best degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $55,422 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,803 to complete this degree.
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Western Carolina University earned the #18 position for best this year. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 134 best degrees were awarded at Western Carolina University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $54,286 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,375 to complete this degree.
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University Of South Carolina Columbia earned the #19 position for best this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 11 best students who graduated with this degree at University Of South Carolina Columbia in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $53,623. University Of South Carolina Columbia graduates carry a median of $24,537 in student loans.
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Florida Gulf Coast University landed the #20 spot for best this year. Set in the suburb of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University is a large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 best students who graduated with this degree at Florida Gulf Coast University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $54,883 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,015 to complete this degree.
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Florida International University placed #21 among the best best schools. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Florida International University awarded about 126 best degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $52,689. Florida International University graduates carry a median of $27,022 in student loans.
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Florida Institute Of Technology placed #22 among the best best schools. Located in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 19 best degrees were awarded at Florida Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Best graduates of Florida Institute Of Technology earn a median of $69,878 early in their careers. Florida Institute Of Technology graduates carry a median of $32,114 in student loans.
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Gardner Webb University placed #23 among the best best schools. Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Boiling Springs. Gardner Webb University graduates 54% of students within six years. About 37 best degrees were awarded at Gardner Webb University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $63,220 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,033.
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University Of Kentucky landed the #24 spot for best this year. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 43 best degrees were awarded at University Of Kentucky in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $57,725. Typical student debt for the program is $24,094.
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Old Dominion University earned the #25 position for best this year. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. About 46% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 51 best students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the best program make about $65,888 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,001.
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Rest of the Top 50 Best Schools
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 80 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.